Funeral & Funeral prayer

A dead Muslim has four rights over living Muslims. The right to be washed, shrouded, prayed over, and buried. However Muslims are not obliged to do so for those who die as apostates (Persons changes his religion) or while fighting against them.

Burial rituals should normally take place as soon as possible and include

Bathing the dead body, except in extraordinary circumstances as in battle of Uhad .

Enshrouding dead body in cloth (Kafan).

Funeral prayer. (Salaat-e-Janaza or Namaze Janaza)

Positioning the deceased in the grave so that the head is faced towards Ka`aba .

Burial of the dead body in a grave.

Bathing or Body-Washing or "Ghusl"

Washing the deceased's body is obligatory on Muslims; it is a Fard Kifaya, i.e., if some members take the responsibility of doing it, the need is fulfilled, but if no one fulfills it then all Muslims will be accountable.

Washing can be carried out in the following way:

1. A man's body should be washed by men and a woman's by women, but a child's body may be washed by either sex. A husband can wash his wife's body and vice-versa if the need arises.

2. Only one person is needed for washing with someone to help him.

3. It is better to choose a person who knows best how to perform ghusl.

4. Place the body on a high place, e.g., a table or something similar.

8. Only clean water may be used; add some scented oils (non-alcoholic) in the final wash. It is preferable to use warm water.

9. Perform ablution (wudu) for the body, cleaning the teeth and nose from outside only.

10. Wash three times, but if the body is not yet cleaned, continue washing five or seven times - it must be odd numbers.

Turn the body on its left side and begin washing the right side. Then turn it on its right side to wash the left side. This is done in each wash. The first and the second washes are done with water and soap, while the last one with water and scent.

11. Hair should be washed and combed. For women it may be braided in three ribbons.

12. Dry the body with a clean cloth or towel.

13. Add some perfume on the head, forehead, nose, hands, knees and eyes,

Wrapping (Kafan)

1. It must be a clean piece of cloth (preferably white) to cover the whole body.

2. Add some perfume to the kafan (non-alcoholic).

3. Do not use silk cloth for men.

4. Use three pieces for men and five for women, [but each one must cover the whole body.]

5. Tie the front and the rear with a piece of cloth (from the same kafan) in such a way that one can differentiate the head from the legs.

After washing, a dead body, it is wrapped in a shroud (kafan) and put in a coffin. This holds true for everyone except martyrs, who are buried in the clothes in which they were martyred. The corpse is placed in a way, so that its right side faces the Qibla. The congregation then stands to pray before corpse (Janaza).

Salaat-e-Janaza or Namaze Janaza (Funeral prayer)

The Muslims of the community gather to offer their collective prayers for the forgiveness of the dead. This prayer has been generally termed as the Namaze Janaza.The prayer is offered in a particular way with extra (four) Takbirs but there is no Ruku (bowing) and Sijdah (prostrating). It becomes obligatory for every Muslim adult male to perform the funeral prayer upon the death of any Muslim, however when it is performed by the few it will not be obligation for all.

Women also can attend the prayer

Method of Namaze Janaza

The Imam makes the intention (Niyyat) to pray for the deceased and for God’s sake (waaste Allah Ke) with four takbirs. The congregation makes the same intention and also mentions to pray behind the Imam.

1. The prayer begins with first takbir of Allaho Akbar by Imam, [The Imam must say all the takbeer aloud whereas the muqtadee (followers) must repeat them silently.

When first takbir is said by Imam the followers should repeat the takbir silently and lift both the hand up to the ears, palm facing Qibla and keep the hands under the navel, right hand on top of left. Then recite sana with addition of one word :

O Allah! send grace and honor on Mohammad and on the family and true followers of Mohammad just as you sent Grace and Honor on Ibrahim and on the family and his true followers. Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great."

Oh Allah! Forgive those of us who are alive and those of us who are dead; those of us who are present and those of us who are absent; those of us who are young and those of us who are adults; our males and our females. O`Allah! Whomsoever You keep alive, let him live as a follower of Islam and whomsoever You cause to die, let him die as a Believer.

4. The Imam says the takbir of Allaho Akbar, as the fourth takbir, the followers also repeat the same silently and then salutation on right and then left.

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ

This ends the Namaze Janaza for adults.

If the dead person is a minor, the funeral Dua is different for the male and different for the female: